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Hornets look forward to State Championships

The Bryant Hornet swim team finished their 2012-2013 swim season at the South District Championship held earlier this month at Bishop Park. At the conclusion of the meet, the Hornets and Lady Hornets finished in first place and were named the South District champions for the fourth year in a row. The Hornets scored 418 points at the meet, with second-place Magnolia coming in with 260 points and third-place Benton with 246. The Lady Hornets finished with 474 points to second-place Magnolia's 259 points.
The state qualifying and outstanding swimmers were sophomores Minki Kang and Lindsey Butler, and freshman Katie Higgs. They will represent the Hornets at the Arkansas State High School Championships on Saturday at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. Kang broke the pool record at Hendrix College, set by a college swimmer in 2007 in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:38.89, during the Hendrix Invitational meet held in January. At the district meet, Kang finished first in the boys 200 freestyle with a time of 1:53.29 and the boys 200 intermediate medley, with a finish time of 1:59.42. He has qualified for the state championship meet in the boys 50, 100, 200, and 500 freestyle events, 200 IM, 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke.
Butler was the outstanding swimmer on the girls team finishing in first place in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:01.18 and second in the 50 freestyle with 25.10 at the district. She has qualified for state in the 50 and 100 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 200 IM. Katie Higgs placed second in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:06.93 and third in 100 backstroke with a time of 1:07.53. She has qualified for state in the 100 butterfly, 200 IM and 100 backstroke.
During the dive portion of the Arkansas State Swim and Dive finals on Friday, Justin Combs, Lucas Reitenger, Scott Mead and Kaitlin Howey will compete in an 11-dive, 1-meter board event. Working with the dive team this year is Assistant Coach Lisa Mundy.
"I have welcomed Lisa’s assistance and I feel she has done very well with the students," said Hornets swim Coach Angel Dale.
The team began the season in October with 40 student athletes. Each swimmer competed in two individual and two team relays during the nine regular and district swim meets this season. For the swimmers who have met the state qualifying times, Friday and Saturday will conclude their season.
"Our team had a good season," according Dale, "even with a few setbacks due to illness and injuries."